Panty pad



L. E. CAMPAU July 17, 1962 PANTY PAD Filed Feb. 29. 1960 INVENTOR.

LOYO LA E. CAM PAU FIG.7.

ATTORNEYS &

United States This invention relates to absorbent sanitary devices and refers more particularly to sanitary devices intended for everyday use.

Many women are troubled with the problem of daily spotting. The usual sanitary pad or napkin worn during the monthly menstrual flow, while satisfactory for its intended purpose, is entirely too uncomfortable for everyday use. Hence, there is a real need for a device which will protect undergarments and yet which can be worn every day without discomfort.

One object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive sanitary device especially. designed to fulfill the need mentioned above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sanitary device of the above type which is secured tothe crotch of an undergarment, rather than to the body of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sanitary device which is secured to the crotch of an under-- garment by an adhesive which is located at the ends of the device inwardly of the margin thereof to preclude contact with the body of the wearer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sanitary device as described above having removable flexible covering strips for the adhesive prior to use.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent I as the following description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with 'the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a panty-type undergarment with an absorbent device in the crotch, according to my invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the undergarment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device looking at the under side.

FIG. 5 is an edge view of the device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of FIG. 5, somewhat exaggerated for clarity.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective, also somewhat "exaggerated, of one end of the device showing one of the protective strips being removed from the adhesive.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a

panty 19 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 with my absorbent device 12 in place in the crotch thereof. The panty is of the usual design having an elastic waist and leg openings 14 separated by material defining the crotch 15.

' The device itself is shown more clearly in FIGS. 4-7, and is in the shape of an elongated rectangle. It comprises a member 11 made of a soft, pliant, highly absorbent materi-al which will not chafe or bind. Preferably a thin, pliable paper-like material is employed, similar to that used as a disposable diaper liner for infants.

The member 11 is extremely thin as compared with its length and width and is composed of a foldedcover sheet 16 and a core 18, both of this same material. The sheet has a width somewhat greater than the length of the completed member and is folded on itself several times to provide the desired thickness. The fold lines define the longitudinal edges of the member and, as seen in FIG. 7, the sheet has been folded twice to provide three plies. Obviously, the sheet could be made longer and foldedon itself one or more additional times for added absorbency.

The core 18 is formed of the same material as the atent 3,044,467 Patented July 17, 1,962

ice

.sheet and is built up to .the'desired thickness by folding upon itself. The core is disposed within the folded outer sheet and provides additional absorbency. p

The ends 20 of the absorbent member 11 are folded over the upper surface 22 thereof. It will be noted that the core 18 is of thesame length as the cover sheet and hence the folded ends ofthe pad. are composed of both the cover sheet andthe'inner core. FIG. 6 is somewhat exaggerated for clarity, since actually the cover sheet and core are very thin.

A strip 24- of adhesive is provided at each end of the absorbent member 11, extending transversely or from side to side. The strips 24 have a pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides, the adhesive on one side adhering to the device and the adhesive on the other side being for the purpose of adhering the device to the panty, as more fully described hereinafter. The adhesive strip sticks to the upper surface of the device 'as well as the folded ends 20 thereof. It also adheres together the two plies or layers of the cover sheet making up the upper side of the device to prevent the device from unfolding.

Prior to use, two cover strips 26 and 27 cover the exposed adhesive of each strip 24. Strip 26 covers one half of the adhesive and strip 27 covers the other half. The strips 26 and 27 meet at the middle of each adhesive strip 24, and have extensions 30 which project out from the device so that they may be conveniently gripped between the fingers and the cover strips removed. FIG. 7 shows the strip 27 partially removed.

In use, the cover strips 26 and 27 are removed and the device is secured on the inside of the crotch of the panty with the adhesive side toward the crotch, as illustrated. The device extends from front to back and extends for a major portion of the length of the crotch. It is secured in position by pressing the adhesive strips 24 firmly against the crotch material 15. The entire upper surface of the absorbent member 11 is exposed. The adhesive 24 is entirely within the margin of the member, as best seen in FIG. 7, so that there is no possibility of contact with the body of the wearer.

Since the device is made up of only a few layers, four in the illustrated embodimentfof a soft pliant paper-like material, it is extremely thin and is capable of bending readily in a sharp, abrupt fold if necessary to conform to the body of the wearer. While, as stated, FIGURES 6 and 7 are exaggerated for clarity, the extreme overall thinness of the device will be readily appreciated from these and the other'views. The illustrated folds at the ends of the device and along the longitudinal edges thereof provide an indication of its flexibility as a whole.

The device is in no way attached to the body, and is of soft non-irritating material so that no discomfort whatever is experienced by the wearer. It may be removed from the panty with ease and is readily disposable.

While the device is shown together with a panty, it may also be used with a panty-type girdle or any undergarment having separate leg openings.

What I claim as my invention is:

A garment shield adapted to be worn in the crotch of the garment as a protective covering liner therefor, said device comprising an elongated, imperforate rectangular sheet-like member composed of superimposed extremely thin layers of a readily disposable soft, pliant, absorbent paper-like material and the entire upper surf-ace of which is uninterrupted and exposed, the .end portions of said member being folded back flat against the under surface of the intermediate portion of said member between the end portions thereof in surface-to-surface relation therewith, and elongated, flexible narrow strips having adhesive on opposite surfaces thereof, said strips extending transversely of said member along the marginal edges of said end portions and overlying and adhering .to the a under sinface of said intermediate portion thereof and to said folded back end pontions by the adhesive on one of the surfaces of said strips to-secure said end portions in place, the adhesive on the opposite surfaces of said strips being adapted tosec'ur'e said member to the inner side of-thecrotch of the garment in aposition extending fromfront to backpand a protective cover applied over and adhered to-the'adhesive'on the said opposite surin inwardly spaced relation to the margin of said memher to protect the body of the wearer from contact with the adhesive, said adhesive 'on said opposite surfaces of said strips constituting the sole means of attachment of said device to the garment so that the portions of said device between said strips can fieX freely and readily conform to the body of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scribner Sept. 8, 1942 2,629,380 Schweikert Feb. 24,-1953 2,705,957 Mauro Apr. 12, 1955 2,838,048

Kowalski June '10, 1958 

